What's New
The first-in-the-nation limits on global warming pollution from power plants were unfortunately weakened in 2005 by former Gov. Mitt Romney, soon after he backed out of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI). His changes opened new loopholes for plant owners to avoid actually reducing global warming emissions. Environment Massachusetts is working to make sure that, as he guides Massachusetts back into the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, Gov. Patrick undoes the damage done by former Gov. Romney.
Brief history of the campaign
In 1997, we launched
a campaign with groups like Clean Water Action to get Massachusetts’
oldest and dirtiest power plants cleaned up. We set out to build a deep
and broad coalition to convince Governor Paul Cellucci to agree to
clean up the “Filthy Five.” Local committees were formed around each of
the plants and became the heart and soul of the Clean Air Now!
Coalition.
In the summer of 1998, Our coalition mobilized
thousands of folks through their citizen outreach efforts. We succeeded
in getting more constituent input into the governor’s office than had
ever been recorded - thousands of letters, phone calls and e-mails.
Finally,
in the fall of 1998, responding to overwhelming public groundswell,
Gov. Cellucci made a high profile pledge to get the Filthy Five to
“meet modern emission standards.” He ordered his Department of
Environmental Protection Commissioner to formally respond to a petition
filed by the Coalition demanding strong regulations to clean up the
Filthy Five.
In May 2000, the Clean Air Now! Coalition
released a compelling Harvard study proving that power plants wreaked
health and environmental havoc on surrounding communities. This report
provoked Gov. Cellucci to put regulations out for public comments.
Thanks to organizing efforts by the coalition and our local partners
the five hearings held in July 2000 were attended by over 1,200 people,
while many elected officials and statewide groups also weighed in.
In
2001, the Clean Air Now! Coalition grows to over one hundred and fifty
environmental and public health organizations around the state. The
power of the coalition finally persuaded Cellucci’s successor, acting
Governor Jane Swift, to release regulations on April 23, 2001. The
regulations required deep cuts in smog and soot, first-in-the-nation
limits on global warming pollution, and guidelines for crafting limits
on mercury.
In 2004, after completing a comprehensive study
of the issue, the Department of Environmental issued final limits on
mercury pollution from the Filthy Five. They are the nation's strongest
limits on mercury pollution from power plants, requiring 85% control
efficiency by 2008 and 95% control efficiency by 2012.
